Wallabies smashed for six in first half blitzkrieg
NEW ZEALAND dismissed Australia from their presence with a remarkable six-try first half burst in Sydney which left you appreciating just how well the Lions had done earlier this summer to contain Steve Hansen’s world champions.
For 40 minutes the All Blacks, who manufactured just four tries in three Tests against the Lions, ran riot against a shell-shocked Australian team that were turned inside and out.
It was a hugely impressive demonstration of attacking and counter-attacking rugby and the All Blacks masterclass continued for the first ten minutes of the second half. However, untypically, New Zealand then took their foot right off the pedal and Australia actually recovered to score four decent tries themselves.
Although little can detract from the Kiwi’s earlier blitzkrieg the match did end on a slightly downbeat note for New Zealand, although of course it gives Hansen plenty to work with in training this week ahead of the return fixture in Dunedin on Saturday.
The 28 points they conceded after the break yesterday was the second highest total New Zealand have ever conceded in a second half, being ‘bettered’ only by the 33 against France in the 1999 World Cup semi-final.
As Hansen put it: “We got seduced by the scoreboard and went away from the fundamentals from what we wanted to do.”
As for Australia, they salvaged a little pride which was important, but the sheer poverty and ineptitude of their first half will haunt all those involved for the rest of their careers.
With their June Tests a distant memory and so little Australian involvement in the final stages of the Super Rugby competition, the Wallabies enjoyed a four-week build up for this game which ultimately worked against them with everybody seemingly short of a run.
Pre-match there was a thought that perhaps the Lions had demonstrated a few chinks in the All Blacks’ armour and New Zealand might be licking their wounds a little – but it was wishful thinking. It was an angry, pumped up and much wiser All Blacks that ran on determined that normal service should be resumed.
And it was a stronger All Blacks team as well, especially behind the scrum.
Injuries are part of life in Test rugby so there are never any excuses but objectively New Zealand badly missed the X-factor of Ben Smith in the second and third Tests against the Lions and the glue of Ryan Crotty in midfield.
There was also the return of Sonny Bill Williams after his dismissal in the second Test and an impressive display from full-back Damian Mckenzie, who had been expected to start against the Lions but was held back. This was probably the All Blacks back division that was meant to tame the Lions.
After an early Australia penalty from Foley, New Zealand struck for their first try through impressive blindside flanker Liam Squire who ran powerfully down the left wing for his score. A second penalty from Foley on 15 minutes briefly gave the impression that a proper contest was being enacted but from that moment New Zealand hit the turbo and disappeared out of sight.
First Rieko Ioane, who served notice of his potential when appearing against the Lions, chipped in with a brace which completely took the wind out of Australia’s sails.
His opening score was the best as New Zealand moved down the blindside right to left with Australia’s defence seemingly having the situa-
tion well covered. What they hadn’t reckoned on though was Beauden Barrett’s inch perfect miss pass which Ioane cleverly drifted onto at the last moment to touchdown in the corner.
A cracking score and moments later Ioane was on hand again when an Australian attack broke down in midfield. Crotty was on hand to pick up and make a little ground before sensibly moving the ball onto the Auckland Blues wing who simply had to engage top gear to speed home unchallenged.
Australia’s midfield defence was a shambles, which is hardly a surprise seeing that coach Michael Cheika yesterday was starting his tenth different combination since his team reached the World Cup final less than two years ago.
Confusion reigned and New Zealand ran amok. The ever-reliable Crotty struck for a try, then Williams ploughed over after Barrett had gone close and then on the stroke of half-time Crotty pounced for his second and New Zealand’s sixth try as they went down the tunnel an unthinkable 40-6 to the good. Job done.
After the break, initially, it was more of the same with McKenzie and Ben Smith crossing for cracking scores as New Zealand continued their point a minute progress but finally, as the replacements came on, their momentum began to stall and perhaps there was also an element of the All Blacks ‘declaring’.
Australia were also desperate to salvage something from the game and gradually they did begin to find some continuity behind the scrum. Debutant Curtis Rona popped up on Nick Phipps’ shoulder to score a nicely worked try from a scrum five before Tevita Kuridrani was on hand to profit from a trademark half-break from Izzy Folau.
New Zealand had suddenly gone cold and it’s very difficult to heat up again in such circumstances. Australia were thankful and continued to press and there was a welldeserved try for Kurtley Beale, who battled well in adversity all night, and a second score for Folau who has now scored seven Test tries this summer.
Australia finished on a high of sorts but they need all the encouragement they can get as they contemplate the return game at the House of Pane in Dunedin on Saturday.
“I know we’ll improve and we’ve got to do some quick improving before the next game to keep the series alive,” said coach Michael Cheika.
“There’s not going to be a lot of changes. The change has to come from us believing we can make the hits... making sure we’re coming up on defence and backing ourselves.”